Designing your kitchen is one of the most exciting parts of building a custom home because your kitchen is often the heart of your home, where you gather, cook, chat and even receive guests if there’s an eating zone here. One design element that has been around for years and is still incredibly popular are glass front cabinet doors. Glass cabinets look fabulous in the right design, but there are some downsides of them as well. Before you decide to put them in your home kitchen, here are a few of the pros and cons of glass cabinet doors, consider them to find out whether they are for your space or not.
What Are Pros Of Glass Kitchen Cabinets?
There is a wide array of choices available in the market: glass front cabinet doors are not just available in regular, flat panel types, they’re also available in textured, frosted, stained, seeded and leaded versions. Hence, you can find a glass kitchen cabinet door that suits your kitchen theme and style whether it’s traditional, modern, or transitional.
In large kitchens with numerous cabinets, solid wood cupboard doors can look monotonous. On the other hand, glass cabinets can break up the monotony in several ways. Either by only using a few glass panels in select cabinets, choosing frosted or leaded glass, or placing attractive dishes behind transparent glass adds interest to your kitchen.
Having transparent cabinet doors allows you to take advantage of the space to create a unique design element. Line the back of the cabinets with eclectic wallpaper, install mirrors or shiplap, or add lighting inside the cabinets. You can also use the glass itself as an opportunity to create interest, such as by installing colored glass or even adding stained glass designs within the frames.
They make kitchens look bigger, just like mirrors, glass front kitchen cabinets also reflect and scatter light throughout the room, making it look open and airy. Placing glass front cabinetry near windows or in the corners offers more light reflection for the biggest impact.
They make kitchenware easier to find: glass front kitchen cabinets are transparent, that’s why you’ll be able to locate the kitchen equipment you need even without opening your kitchen cabinet doors. Plus, they’re a great way to display your kitchenware compared to open shelving since you don’t need to worry about it breaking or getting dusty.
They’re easy to clean: unlike wooden kitchen cabinets, glass-front kitchen cabinets are waterproof and stain resistant, making them easier to clean. So, you can just wipe and go! Nevertheless, if ever it gets greasy you can spray it with a glass cleaner first before wiping it with a soft, clean cloth to make it crystal-clear again.
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a graphite grey kitchen with shaker and glass cabinets, a white subway tile backsplash, butcherblock countertops and pendant lamps
What Are Cons Of Glass Kitchen Cabinets?
They’re fragile: glass front kitchen cabinet doors are prone to cracking and breaking, that’s why you should handle them with care and close them gently.
They make clutter visible: although it is mentioned earlier that glass-front kitchen cabinet doors are a great way to display kitchenware, that is if they’re arranged and organized. Not arranging them in piles, according to kind and color, will only make your kitchen look like a mess and worse, everyone who will enter your kitchen will be able to see it.
Glass doors show every fingerprint, grease smudge, and water spot while visible dust collects in the corners of the frames. While the upkeep only requires glass cleaner and paper towels, you will find yourself wiping them down fairly regularly compared to solid kitchen cabinetry.
High-quality glass is installed in cabinet doors in order to reduce the risk of cracked or shattered glass. While this is safer, it’s also going to be more expensive than wooden cabinetry.
If the glass cracks, breaks, or discolors over time, you’re looking at more frequent replacement than you would with wood.
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a grey kitchen with wooden countertops and whites and off-whites looks traditional meets modern
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Glass kitchen cabinet doors are versatile, timeless, and elegant, that’s why it’s a good material choice for any kitchen style. However, you have to be extra careful in using one, and make time to sort your kitchenware so that everything looks spick and span, otherwise they’ll be a window to your personal orderliness and might leave a bad impression on your guests.
a stained kitchen with chevron and glass front cabinets, black countertops and a backsplash and an eating zone right here
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